''I'm parting with a little sadness,'' said Plunket, whose last day with the network will be December 21. ''It's been more fun than I've had anywhere else in broadcasting.''

Plunket has had a varied career that has included stints with TV3, Television New Zealand's Fair Go programme, time in the parliamentary press gallery and 14 years as Geoff Robinson's co-host of Radio New Zealand's Morning Report programme.

Dallas Gurney, general manager of talk programming for The Radio Network, said Plunket had done really well for Newstalk ZB.

''It is the No 1 commercial station in Wellington and Sean's done a particularly good job of consolidating that position after taking over from Justin du Fresne,'' Gurney said.